No Winter Lasts Forever
I came into this whole gardening thing kicking and screaming. I moved from Hawaii, the land of flamboyant and wildly amazing tropical flowers. We thought we had closed on a house in January and we moved in on March 8, 2017. By May it was obvious what we had purchased was a yard full of weeds with a house thrown in for free. We had inherited a back yard of weeds, a garage that had seen better days, and mud where a path would later become a walk way to the back porch. When we looked for a house we never thought about what was outside. It was discouraging to see weeds and nothing remotely beautiful to my untrained eye. That summer we pulled ditch lilies. every side of a building had those disgusting orange flowers that I hated on sight. And we pulled what I learned was burdock. We [...]
Moving Is Hard
In retrospect, moving from sunny Hawaii to gloomy Wisconsin in March probably was not the best choice. But we’d quit our jobs, given notice on our gorgeous duplex, and sad goodbye to the best landlord ever. The loan was approved and it was time to start the new life I never wanted. After a final concert with the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble and a teary aloha, we flew to Houston and enjoyed spending time with family and friends before boarding our fight to Milwaukee. We decided to book two nights at a hotel because I did not know when our belongings would arrive. I was so tired of spending money that we opted for the cheapest hotel available. How bad could it be? So much worse than you want to know. It was freezing in that room and I got yelled at for asking for a second blanket. The room [...]
Leis of Aloha
I am going to be the keynote speaker at a big conference here in Oshkosh were we now live. For some reason when I got the invitation I flashed on what I would wear to show off the lei I would be given. I used to hate singing with the double carnation lei that was so popular during the time when George Ariyoshi was in office. Those leis were so hot! When I sang with the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble I got to choose the leis for the soloists and the director. I'd try and get florist to donate them, but we also paid out of our small budget. The best leis we got were always from Sadie at the A Picket Fence Florist in Kailua. Sadie was always so generous and she took so care with everything she created. Of course there won't be a lei for me as [...]
My Dog Thinks I’m Perfect
We need spring to come! It's been a long haul, and there are days when I'm tired of myself and my attitude. I've grumbled too much about the ice, I've dreamed too much of going [...]
Introducing Second Chance North
For over four years I did marketing and other tasks for a local rescue shelter. We rescued dogs from a high kill shelter in Kentucky. That's where I got my dog and he's the reason [...]
A Dog Will Change Everything
Yesterday I was a guest on a podcast about people who are trying to make a difference in the world. The host was a quiet high school student and he was incredibly personable. I loved [...]